He glanced over at Vivi who was engrossed in her phone. The report from Bob indicated that she was from a small town in North Carolina, but she had not visited the town for about ten years. She had no siblings and her parents still lived there. It seemed strange that she had not gone to see them. It appeared they indulged her and she loved them but then she disappeared suddenly and never returned. There was definitely a reason why she’d stayed away for such a long time.
“So…it must be hard staying away from your hometown this long. Ten years is a very long time, if you ask me.”
Vivi raised her head sharply, not sure how he had gotten that information.
“What did you say?”
“It must be difficult for your parents…, you being away for such a long time. Or do your parents come to visit you instead?
“You certainly did not get such private detail from my resume so how do you know that?”
“It is the digital age so it is really easy to get information about a person of interest. I have my ways of doing just that.”
She was indignant, “What did you do, Richard?”
He shrugged, “Not me. I had my private investigator do his job. I had to know about you before we went further.”
“Who says I’m going any further with you?”
“I did and I know you want to too. At least so your body tells me.”
“Then you must have a very active imagination.”
He reached for her chin and tipped her head so that he was looking her in the eyes, “Do you deny that you don’t want to know where this chemistry between us will lead?”
It would be a lie if she said no and he would think she was interested in him if she said otherwise. So she replied, “Believe what you want. I don’t have to honor that with a response.”
He let her go, “I thought so. The pastor daughter cannot tell a lie, can she?”
If only he knew the lie she was living, “Remember, no one is perfect. At least I don’t claim to be.”
“Hmm.., now that’s what I call honesty.”
She was seething with anger. What did the investigator uncover besides the question he was asking? Perhaps Richard knowing about her past was to her benefit after all. He would definitely run the other way if he discovered the skeletons in her closet. So why was the thought of him abandoning the chase suddenly depressing?
“Well, hopefully your curiosity or rather obsession with my private life has been satisfied by that report.”
He wanted to tell her his obsession had yet to be satisfied but instead he said, “Actually, I believe if you will just answer my previous question I’ll have all the information I need for now.”
“So much for being a billionaire. How much did you pay the guy, again?”
He chuckled, “That I’m not telling you.”
The limo reached her building and came to a stop. She rushed out of the limousine, but he came after her and walked her to the entry way. He brushed her cheeks lightly then waited as she went into the building before he went back to the limo.
Vivi watched him go then she went up to her condo. She wondered what specifically was in the report the investigator had emailed him. She felt it was indeed missing the most important piece of the puzzle since Richard had not mentioned it.
Chapter Five
Vivi called Emmy to ask for a ride to work because her car was at the mechanic shop. Emmy was always running late but she was the best option at the moment. She hoped her car would be done before the end of the work day. A text message informed her Emmy had arrived. She was glad her friend had arrived on time.
“Thanks for the ride on a last minute notice, Emmy. I honestly thought I would have had to wait much longer.”
Both women giggled knowing the implication of her last statement.
“I’m aware that you believe in punctuality so I have to get you there on time.”
“That’s very thoughtful of you, thanks.”
“No problem, I always enjoy carpooling with you.”
Elvira was her best friend but she also took on the role of a sister so they always hung out together.
Emmy glanced over at Vivi, “So, talk to me about our new boss?”
“What do you want to hear? He’s obnoxious, egotistical, and annoying.”
“Hmmm…Wrong description for a man I think is amusing, eye-catching and amiably charming.”
Vivi shrugged, “You asked for my opinion and I gave it.”
Emmy smiled. She knew what Vivi thought of the rich and powerful but she could sense there was definitely something going on.
“Now your description may well apply to his brother.”
“I don’t know… Terry strikes me as being very reasonable,” Vivi responded.
“I’d say the same of Richard so I guess it depends…”
Vivi nodded. As far as she was concerned, the wealthy were guilty of exploitation until they reveal otherwise.
Her phone rang as they drove away then she saw a black limousine pulling up at the front of her building. She knew it was no coincidence.
She didn’t want Emmy to know who was on the other end so she answered, “Elvira speaking.”
“Elvira, I’m parked outside your building. I thought you might need a ride to work.”
“Thanks, but I already got a ride.”
She wasn’t taking a ride from the boyfriend, was she? That thought enraged him.
“Who are you riding with, Elvira?” He spoke the words softly but she heard the undertone of anger.
“I don’t have to answer that question.”
Vivi hung up, fueling his anger even more. He would need to know who this other guy was and everything about him.
For now, he was grateful for technology. Richard was able to track her location using her cellphone. Then he pulled down the partition in his limo and directed his driver using his GPS tracker.
“Who was that?” Emmy asked Vivi. Emmy had not noticed the limo as she’d focused on the driving.
“It’s just a friend who wanted to give me a ride.”
“The same friend who took you home yesterday?
“Maybe.”
Emmy had never seen Vivi this evasive before and she was intrigued.
Vivi’s phone rang again and she recognized Richard’s number. She wanted to send it to her voicemail but she didn’t want to make Emmy even more suspicious about her mystery caller.
She picked up the phone, “I told you I had a ride.”
“But you did not say with whom so be warned that I am now following his car.”
His car? She realized he had taken the bait. She turned around and realized the limo was directly behind Emmy’s car. He had to be kidding.
Having him follow Emmy’s car was not her intention when she answered him vaguely but igniting jealousy was. He’d simply complicated her explanations to Emmy.
She replied, “Emmy, a workmate, is giving me a ride.”
Richard relaxed. He’d met Emmy when he’d visited the finance department― Terry’s Emmy― and he’d liked her.
“That’s all I needed to know. Enjoy your ride.”
Having assured himself that she was not carpooling with a guy, he instructed Martin to take him to work.
Vivi let out a sigh of relieve as the limo went by. She was aware of him looking into the car to verify her response as the limo slowed down fleetingly before overtaking them.
Emmy had been driving but had seen Vivi turn around when her phone rang. Then as the limo had cruised by she knew she had not imagined it slowing down next to her car.
She chuckled, “Could that friend be the one in the limo?”
Vivi rolled her eyes, and Emmy took that as a “yes.”
“Okay, that is certainly not annoying. I think that was considerate of him.”
“I think that is being inconsiderate when he went on to follow us even though I told him I had a ride.”
“You asked for it when you tried to make him think you were getting a ride
from a guy.”
“You’re too smart for your own good.”
Emmy smiled. She had heard only one side of the conversation between the two but it didn’t take much to know what was going on. She also knew who was in the limo but she would not pry for now unless Vivi was ready to tell her.
“Thanks by the way for choosing my humble ride over a grand limo.”
“Okay, Emmy. You know who that was.”
“Yes, the boss?” she grinned girlishly.
“Yes, but this will not work for me.”
“Why? Is it because of his status and by that I mean loaded and influential or because you work for him?
“Probably, all of the above. But mostly because he is a nicely wrapped package of trouble.”
“You can’t possibly know what’s in a parcel until you open it up. You’re the best lawyer I’ve ever known and you proved that right out of college.”
“But that is different.”
“Not really. Even if you think so, I’d have to say this guy has my endorsement. Don’t let a dead-beat jerk from your past dictate your future with other men. He didn’t deserve you. At least give Richard a chance.”
Emmy was the only other person Vivi had confided in about her past. She knew she could count on Emmy to keep this conversation private as well.
Emmy continued, “I have confidence that you can handle that package.”
Vivi remained quiet, making no comment. Was Emmy right? Could she dare to take a chance at dating?
“Look, we’re here,” Emmy told her minutes later.
Richard arrived at the office excited as he’d been since he found out that Elvira was a floor away from him. As the hours went by he was tempted to stop by her office but he needed a reasonable excuse. After their conversation on the phone that morning, he made sure to call and pay the extra fee required for urgent repairs.
Later that day one of his men returned Vivi’s car keys and informed her car was in the parking lot. She walked into Richard’s office shortly afterwards.
When Marilyn saw Vivi she looked at Richard’s schedule. She saw no scheduled appointments with the younger woman.
“He’s on a conference call, Ms. Whitman. I can schedule an appointment for later this afternoon?”
Vivi knew some of these so-called conference calls could mean the boss wanted to be alone. She thought to take a chance and see if he was really on a conference call.
“It’s important that I speak with him, Ms. Skinner,” she said to his secretary.
Marilyn considered the request for a minute. Surely, the boss exuberant mood today is because of this woman? She thought. Hadn’t he asked her to clear this schedule when Vivi called? Well, Vivi was here now and calling in person.
She got up and knocked gently then poked her head through the door, “Mr. Mcgallan, you have a guest.”
Richard muted his line, aware that Marilyn would never interrupt a conference call unless it was absolutely necessary.
“Who is it?” he asked.
“Ms. Whitman, sir,” his secretary replied.
“Send her in, please. I’ll see her now.”
Richard disconnected the call―glad Terry was on it also. “I have an emergency that needs my attention,” he excused himself before hanging up.
It was one of those times he appreciated being the “powerhouse” of a billion dollar company. He seldom took advantage of the perks that came with it. But the woman who was causing him sleepless nights was in his office. She seemed upset and he would not make her wait until his conference call was over. In fact, she was the one he wanted to talk to at the moment.
Vivi walked in, looking even more beautiful than when he saw her yesterday. The tinted glass of the limo had not done her justice this morning.
He stood up and walked around his desk. “Is everything okay?” he asked when he was standing before her.
She said to him, “Thanks for my car, Mr. Mcgallan, but here’s a refund for my car’s expenses.”
Richard sighed. He should have known she would have objected to him paying for her car expenses.
“No need for refund. You can consider it on the company.”
“I need to pay you back, I don’t want you money.”
“Then have dinner with me and we can consider it paid in full.”
“That will not happen.”
“Give me a good reason why.”
“You are my boss and it will only complicate our work relationship.”
“It’s only dinner.”
“Isn’t that how it all starts?”
Richard smiled, “In any case, I’m not accepting a refund from you.”
“Then I won’t waste my time trying to convince you to take. I’ll give it to Marilyn and let you explain why you can’t accept it to her instead.”
Then Vivi left his office. As she closed the door behind her, she was unaware of the smile on Richard’s face. He chuckled and murmured, “What a spitfire.”
The smile faded away as he recalled another spitfire he had met. It felt strange that after many years he still could not get her off his mind so he should be grateful for the distraction Vivi proffered. Picking up his phone he logged back into the conference call.
Later, his secretary came into the office, “Mr. Mcgallan, do you want me to deposit the check written by Ms. Whitman?”
The check was written out to him so she could easily have deposited it without his knowledge but it was her way of letting him know that Vivi had given her the check.
“That woman could try the patience of a saint and I’m certainly not one,” he muttered under his breath.
“Then perhaps you should keep her close and jump on the patience band wagon.” Marilynn replied.
Richard was surprised by Marilyn’s comment. Up until then, she had simply stood on the sidelines and watched his women come and go.
“I beg your pardon?”
“Well, Mr. Mcgallan, a crash course here and there in patience won’t hurt you. In fact I think you can benefit from it. And while you’re at it, you might want to stop by the “equal grounds” store and pick up few lessons. I think Elvira is trying to set a precedent here and if you want a chance with her then just follow along. I’d say don’t argue over this one.”
Marilyn’s perceptiveness and astuteness was indisputable. He trusted her judgement so he nodded, giving her permission to deposit the check.”
When she left, Richard pulled out a folder from his desk. He had another meeting with one of his employees―Emeline Weisener.
He’d seen the way his brother looks at Emmy and he could tell this was no mere infatuation. He’d gone into Terry’s office one evening and met him gazing out the window. Terry had not responded when he’d called him. Even when he’d walked over and stood next to Terry, his brother’s eyes had been transfixed on Emmy who was in the parking lot below the window. Terry was smiling and had a dreamy look on his face like a hungry man staring at a forbidden fruit.
Standing next to him, Richard saw Emmy talking animatedly to one of her co-workers who seemed amused by whatever Emmy was saying. By the time Emmy went to her car, the other woman was laughing hilariously.
It was only when Emmy had driven off did Terry notice him. He’d tried to discourage Terry before but after that, he knew what Terry felt for her was more than he was letting on.
“So why don’t you make your move,” he’d asked when Terry finally turned towards him.
“I’m not looking for a commitment.”
“You are afraid because she is not the type to have an affair with?”
“My point exactly. Besides, she’s already taken.”
“Not until she says the two words―I do.”
“Engagement is basically the same.”
Richard looked at him like he was a stranger. “Who are you and where’s Terry? You could have fooled me but you’re definitely not my brother. Terry would not say that.”
Richard tapped him gently on the shoulder. “Hey
Terry if you’re in there come out.”
Terry laughed. “You know I can’t do this, Rich.”
“What is it you can’t do specifically?”
“Neither relationship nor commitment.”
“Then you have a serious decision to make, brother. But I cannot help you make it.
He’d decided then to support Terry but stay out of it. So he hoped his upcoming meeting with her would give him insight into Emmy’s ability to keep his risk taking brother grounded.
Chapter Six
Ding, Dong.
Off went Emmy’s doorbell as Vivi sat waiting for her to complete her makeup. They were going out for dinner but as usual, Emmy was not even dressed when Vivi arrived at the apartment thirty minutes earlier. Her Uber ride had shown up sooner than she’d expected. Seeing Vivi, Emmy had rushed to get dressed so she would not keep her friend waiting.
“Could you get the door for me please, Vivi?”
“Yes, but whoever that is will have to wait until you are done with the makeup before you can talk to him or her. Then we’re out of here.”
“Okay, thanks.”
Vivi walked towards the door not sure if she was able to entertain Emmy’s guest until she was ready. She hoped it was Ryan, Emmy’s fiancé.
She cracked open the door and felt butterflies flutter as she stared into the metallic brown eyes of Richard Mcgallan.
He held her gaze, and as if he had some enchanting powers, she couldn’t tear her eyes away from him. What was he doing here? Was Emmy expecting him?
Vivi was unaware of how gorgeous she looked, dressed in a pearl pink lace cocktail evening dress with beads stringed around the neckline. Her silver-like stilettoes revealed slender feet with pink polished nails. She was a breath taking beauty with lips as pink as the dress she was wearing. His eyes grew a shade darker as she pushed a strand of hair back in place.
Somehow he could sense her surprise so by way of explanation he asked, “Is Emmy in?”
Vivi found her voice, “Of course, come on in.”
After all, he was probably here to see Emmy for business purposes. If he wasn’t then Emeline Weisener had some explaining to do. Closing the door, she went in search of Emmy but her friend was already on her way out.
A Masquerade Affair Page 4